Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti addresses groundwater monitoring, dark zones, and water harvesting through public participation. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels and categorizes assessment units. The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) campaign, launched in September 2024, promotes community-driven water sustainability. The National Water Mission (NWM) coordinates efforts between the Centre and States.
Key Points / Main Content:
Groundwater Monitoring:
* CGWB monitors groundwater levels four times annually via 27,000 wells, publishing results in bulletins and a yearbook.
* Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) with telemetry provide real-time data.
Dark Zones and Action Plans:
* CGWB annually assesses units (Blocks/Tehsils/Talukas) as Over Exploited, Critical, Semi-Critical, or Safe, in coordination with state governments.
* As of 2024, 751 Assessment Units are Over Exploited.
* Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) is implemented since 2019, converging funds for water conservation and recharge, with JSA 2025 underway, focusing on overexploited areas.
* Atal Bhujal Yojana targets 80 water-stressed districts, emphasizing community-led groundwater management.
Water Harvesting Public Participation Campaign:
* Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) launched in September 2024 to promote rainwater harvesting as a mass movement.
* Partnerships with industry, NGOs, civil societies, and educational institutions are fostered.
* Awareness campaigns use social media, public events, and workshops.
* Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) disseminate groundwater recharge information.
* Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are engaged.
* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and standard designs for recharge structures are provided to stakeholders.
Coordination Mechanism:
* The National Water Mission (NWM) provides policy guidance and technical support to states, districts, NGOs, and cooperatives.
* Regular review meetings are held with state officials.
* Forums like Dialogue with DMs facilitate interaction.
* Best practices are documented and shared.
* The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Dashboard serves as a collective database.
* Nodal Officers from CGWB and CWC provide technical support and monitoring at the grassroots level.
Impact Analysis:
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):
* Impact: Responsible for groundwater level monitoring, assessment, and providing technical support.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring groundwater levels, coordinating with state governments for assessments, and providing technical assistance at the district level.
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing water conservation and recharge initiatives within their jurisdiction and collaborating with the CGWB.
* Action Required: Participate in the JSJB campaign, implement water conservation measures, and coordinate with central agencies.
District Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring water conservation efforts at the local level.
* Action Required: Implement water conservation measures, participate in forums, and work with Nodal Officers from CGWB and CWC.
NGOs, Trusts, Civil Societies, Educational Institutions, RWAs, SHGs:
* Impact: These stakeholders are crucial for raising awareness, promoting community participation, and implementing local solutions.
* Action Required: Participate in awareness campaigns, promote community ownership, and contribute to local water conservation efforts.
National Water Mission (NWM):
* Impact: Nodal agency driving the campaign, providing policy guidance and key technical support.
* Action Required: Provide policy guidance and technical support to the state governments, District administrations, NGOs, cooperatives and other participating organizations.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Shakti Abhiyan JSA: Flagship campaign of the Ministry of Jal Shakti focused on water conservation and groundwater recharge, implemented since 2019.
Atal Bhujal Yojana: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti targeting 80 water-stressed districts, focusing on community-led sustainable groundwater management.
Central Ground Water Board CGWB: The organization responsible for monitoring groundwater levels and assessing groundwater resources in India.
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari JSJB: A community-driven initiative launched in September 2024 to promote rainwater harvesting as a mass movement.
National Water Mission NWM: The nodal central agency under the Ministry of Jal Shakti driving the water harvesting public participation campaign, providing policy guidance and technical support.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Central Water Commission CWC: An organization that provides technical support for water resource management.
751 OverExploited formerly known as Dark Zones AUs: Assessment Units in the country where the Stage of Ground Water Extraction is over 100.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1933
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
WATER HARVESTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CAMPAIGN
†1933. DR. SAMBIT PATRA
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has developed any mechanism for constantly monitoring of groundwater level
in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of districts of the country declared as dark zones by the Government from the groundwater
level point of view and the details of the action plan formulated to increase groundwater level in these
districts;
(c) whether the Government has initiated a water harvesting public participation campaign for groundwater
recharging and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is implementing any action plan for wide publicity of water harvesting public
participation campaign and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has developed any coordination mechanism between the Centre and the States
for successful implementation of water harvesting public participation campaign and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels four times every year through a
network of around 27,000 Monitoring Wells spread across the country. The results are brought out in the
form of Bulletins after each round of monitoring and also as ground water yearbook, once in a year.
Additionally, Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) equipped with telemetry system, have also been
installed throughout the country by this Ministry, which help in real time monitoring and analysis of
ground water data.
(b) Categorization of Assessment Units (which are generally Blocks/Tehsils/Talukas) in to ‘Over-
Exploited (OE)’, ‘Critical’, ‘Semi-Critical’, ‘Safe’ etc. is done as per the Dynamic Groundwater Resources
Assessment of the country, being annually carried out by CGWB, in co-ordination with state governments.
As per the assessment done in 2024, there are 751 Over-Exploited (formerly known as Dark Zones) AUs in
the country where the ‘Stage of Ground Water Extraction’ is over 100%.
Despite Water being a State subject, the Union government has taken several important initiatives
for sustainable management of ground water resources in the country, with special focus on improving
ground water levels in water stressed areas.
1Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), the flagship campaign of the M/o Jal Shakti, wherein all the efforts and
funds under various schemes and projects are converged and channelized to deliver water conservation and
ground water recharge works on the ground, is being implemented in the country since 2019. Currently,
JSA 2025 is underway with special focus on over-exploited and critical areas. Furthermore, MoJS are
implementing the scheme, Atal Bhujal Yojana, targeting 80 water-stressed districts of the country, focusing
on the theme of community led sustainable ground water management by addressing demand side issues.
(c) To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB): A
Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister
in September 2024, with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country. By
promoting community ownership and responsibility, the initiative seeks to develop cost-effective, local
solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
(d) The Government has implemented extensive measures to promote the JSJB initiative in partnership
with State Governments and local authorities to ensure its widespread reach and awareness. The initiative
aims at forging partnership with Industry, NGOs, Trusts, Civil Societies and educational institutions to
engage the broader community effectively. Several State Governments have been proactively participating
in the campaigns. Awareness campaigns are conducted through social media platforms, public events and
workshops. Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) set up in each district are also helping in expanding the outreach by
disseminating ground water recharge related information. The awareness efforts also include fostering
active community participation through Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). To facilitate easy understanding of recharge and rain water
harvesting methods among the masses, a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and standard
designs for artificial recharge structures has been brought out and shared with all stakeholders.
(e) The National Water Mission (NWM) under the MoJS is the Nodal Central agency driving the
campaign, which provides policy guidance and key technical support to the state governments, District
administrations, NGOs, co-operatives and other participating organizations. Regular review meetings with
state officials are being held for monitoring progress and addressing challenges. Forums like ‘Dialogue
with DMs’ have been established for multi-faceted interaction. Best practices and successful models are
regularly documented and shared with states/district administrations for replication and scaling up. The Jal
Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Dashboard, a digital platform has been created to serve as a collective database
which will help in effective monitoring as well. Further, Nodal Officers from the Central Ground Water
Board (CGWB) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) have been deputed to interact with the district
administration and state line departments so as to ensure technical support, capacity building and regular
monitoring at the grassroots level.
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